Change of game plan key to Clay Guida's UFC Fight Night victory

UFC lightweight Clay Guida (24-9 MMA, 4-3 UFC) is no stranger to adversity in the octagon.

Guida’s UFC Fight Night 15 decision victory over “The Ultimate Fighter 6″ winner Mac Danzig was no different. And as Guida told the crew of TAGG Radio (www.taggradio.com), the official radio partner of MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com), reacting to the challenges Danzig presented was the key to earning the win.

“It was really tough fight,” Guida said. “Mac is a tough dude. I definitely wasn’t expecting the storm that he brought.”

The storm consisted of Danzig’s crisp, aggressive striking through much of the first round. Guida realized the frame was quickly slipping away, and a change of strategy was made on the fly.

“I thought I was losing the first (round), until I got a couple of decent takedowns at the end of the first and was able to hold him on his back a little bit,” Guida said. “I thought the first round was very, very close.”

Guida and his camp had intended to stand and trade with Danzig throughout the night. But the success that Danzig had early on in the bout forced a change of plans for the remainder of the contest.

“We had to change things up a little bit,” Guida admitted. “We were hoping to stand with him for most of the fight and not have to go to the ground. But I always have a couple of game plans, and you have to be able to change to different strategies in the fight. Just react. And that’s what we did.”

The adjustment worked to perfection, and Guida used his trademark endurance and aggression while mixing in a staple of his past — powerful throws and slams.

“It felt good to get back in the old ways of getting my hips underneath me and really taking a guy for a ride,” Guida admitted.

With the Danzig bout behind him, Guida is holding out hope that he will get a late call from the UFC to take part in “UFC 90: Silva vs. Cote.” Scheduled for Oct. 25 just outside of Guida’s hometown of Chicago, the 27-year-old hopes to sneak his way onto the card.

“The Allstate Arena where they’re having it is a half-hour from my house,” Guida said. “I drive by it on the way to practice. To be part of it would be something special.

“We didn’t take Mac lightly, but I was thinking if I beat him there’s a slight possibility. Even if I get on the undercard in my hometown it would be special. We’ll see what happens.”

Guida is now riding a two-fight win streak since his high-profile loss to Roger Huerta in December 2007. “The Carpenter” has also been in exciting battles with an impressive list of UFC contenders in Marcus Aurelio, Tyson Griffin and Din Thomas. Whether or not Guida makes it to the UFC 90 card remains to be seen, but Guida’s ultimate goal does not.

“I just want to fight the guys that are going to get me to a title shot,” Guida explained. “People say you’ve got to be patient. But I’m not here to say, ‘I fight in the UFC.’ I’ve never been about that. I’m here to have that strap around my waist.

“No matter how long it takes, that’s what it’s going to take. I have a lot that I want to do, and being the lightweight champion is definitely right up there at the top.”

Guida also discussed his brother Jason’s reaction to being eliminated from “The Ultimate Fighter 8,” as well as the possibility of scoring a major sponsor in the hair product industry. To hear the full interview, download Thursday’s edition of TAGG Radio, available for free in the TAGG Radio archives.

This story, written by Kieran Malone and John Morgan, was produced by TAGG Radio (www.taggradio.com) specially for MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com). The show — which is hosted by fighter/broadcaster Frank Trigg, Gorgeous George and ace producer Goze — books some of the biggest names in MMA. Download all the former episodes at www.taggradio.com, or tune into TAGG Radio’s live shows Monday-Friday at noon ET/9 a.m. PT.

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